What started out as an idea by Wally Thurow in 1956 to offer something creative for the students of Sycamore has grown from a neighborhood display on his front yard into the town’s biggest city-wide event, beginning on Wednesday with the Opening Ceremony and cake cutting and concluding on Sunday afternoon with a parade.
The festival has over 1000 entries in the Lions Club Decorated Pumpkin Display, two carnivals, many not-for-profit vendors, three indoor craft shows, Saturday entertainment, and various activities, and it concludes on Sunday with a 90-minute parade.
Our History
Back in 1956, Wally Thurow, who is known as Sycamore’s “Mr. Pumpkin,” began what was to become the Sycamore Pumpkin Festival when he displayed a few decorated pumpkins on his front lawn to turn Halloween into a time of fun and creativity. In 1962, through the efforts of Mr. Pumpkin and the Sycamore Lions Club, the Sycamore Pumpkin Festival became an official celebration in Sycamore.
Every year, the Pumpkin Festival unites more than 30 DeKalb County not-for-profit groups, working to provide a weekend of Halloween fun for all. The Courthouse lawn is the center of activities, including thousands of decorated pumpkins on display, there are also art and craft shows, a house walk, a pie eating contest, a carnival, a fun fair, a race, and other events. The festival is concludes with a giant parade on Sunday afternoon.
Our Mission
The Sycamore Pumpkin Festival is a community celebration, showcasing our local not-for-profit organizations.
Our Purpose
The Sycamore Pumpkin Festival Committee is responsible for coordinating the annual Sycamore Pumpkin Festival, a family-oriented festival, to be held in the fall of each year. The festival promotes awareness of the City of Sycamore and provides and opportunity for DeKalb County not-for-profit organizations to participate in fund raising activities, community education, and enrichment.
2025 Sycamore Pumpkin Festival Parade and Non Profit Vendor Applications are NOW OPEN!! 🎃
All applications are due on Monday, September 1.
https://sycamorepumpkinfestival.com/parade-application/
https://sycamorepumpkinfestival.com/vendors/
#SycamorePumpkinFestival #PumpkinsAtTheMovies
Congratulations to the 2025 Sycamore High School Graduating Seniors who were awarded a Bart Desch Memorial Scholarship! 🎃
• Anya Berry
• Justin Forsberg
• Julia Hatar
• Anamaria Juarez
• Alyssa Stacy
We wish you all the best in your future endeavors! 🎓
Congratulations to the 2025 Sycamore Pumpkin Festival Theme Winners 🎃 🎉
L to R:
• Honorable Mention, Lucas Faivre ~ “Pumpkins on Vacation”
• Theme Winner, Rayven Rosas ~ “Pumpkins at the Movies”
• Honorable Mention, Annabelle Hochstatter ~ “Pumpkins in Paradise”
Join us for the announcement of the 2025 SycamorePumpkin Festival Theme Contest Winners! 🎃
Wednesday, May 21
6:00 PM
DeKalb County Courthouse
Front steps
In the event of rain, we will meet in the lobby of the Sycamore City Hall building on the corner of Somonauk and State. Please enter through the Somonauk entrance.
🎃DEADLINE EXTENDED for the 2025 Pumpkin Festival Theme Contest submissions!!
➡️➡️Entries due by April 14, 2025.
Open to all Sycamore grade school students Kindergarten-5th grade.
This includes Sycamore CUSD 427, St. Mary’s School in Sycamore, ACS Cornerstone and home schooled students residing in Sycamore.
Visit https://sycamorepumpkinfestival.com/theme/
📣 Applications are due April 15, 2025 for the Sycamore Pumpkin Festival Bart Desch Scholarships. 🎃 We will be giving a $1,000 scholarship for a senior within Sycamore High School that currently participates as a member in a school or community organization that’s mission involves serving the Sycamore community and surrounding areas.
Applications can be submitted through the Naviance program or via the link below.
https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSdLllkU-jI6Sb7HqNkzRbECNnvDgvVCnOy4A3Px_t6JReDu8Q/viewform
📣 Hey Sycamore students…while you’re on spring break, get your 🎃2025 Pumpkin Festival Theme Contest submissions written!!
Entries due by April 12, 2025.
Open to all Sycamore grade school students Kindergarten-5th grade.
This includes Sycamore CUSD 427, St. Mary’s School in Sycamore, ACS Cornerstone and home schooled students residing in Sycamore.
Visit https://sycamorepumpkinfestival.com/theme/
2025 Sycamore HS Graduating Seniors! The Sycamore Pumpkin Festival Committee will be giving a $1,000 scholarship for a senior within Sycamore High School that currently participates as a member in a school or community organization that’s mission involves serving the Sycamore community and surrounding areas.
Applications are due April 15, 2025.
Applications can be submitted through the Naviance program or via the link below.
https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSdLllkU-jI6Sb7HqNkzRbECNnvDgvVCnOy4A3Px_t6JReDu8Q/viewform
Sycamore Pumpkin Festival
Theme Contest
The Sycamore Pumpkin Festival committee wants YOU to
choose the theme for the 2025 Sycamore Pumpkin
Festival. The Sycamore Pumpkin Festival Theme for 2025
is open to all Sycamore grade school students in kindergarten through 5th grade. This includes students in
Sycamore Community School District 427, St. Mary`s School in Sycamore, ACS Cornerstone, as well as
home-schooled students residing in Sycamore.
You may submit an entry by completing the Google
document via this link:
https://sycamorepumpkinfestival.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/2025-Sycamore-Pumpkin-Festival-Theme-Contest-1.pdf
All submissions are due by April 12th, 2025!
Good Luck! 🎃
2025 𝙎𝙮𝙘𝙖𝙢𝙤𝙧𝙚 𝙋𝙪𝙢𝙥𝙠𝙞𝙣 𝙁𝙚𝙨𝙩𝙞𝙫𝙖𝙡 𝙏𝙝𝙚𝙢𝙚 𝘾𝙤𝙣𝙩𝙚𝙨𝙩 is open to all K-5 Sycamore grade school students including students in Sycamore Public School District, St. Mary`s School in Sycamore, ACS Cornerstone, as well as home schooled students residing in Sycamore.
All entries must be submitted by 11:59 PM on Saturday, April 12, 2025.
Use the link below to enter online.
https://tinyurl.com/Theme-Contest-2025
💰 2024 Sycamore Lions Club Pumpkin Festival Raffle Winners
• $3000 Cash -Janis Cafferkey-Maple Park IL
• $500 Meijer gift card-Chuck Rose-Sycamore IL
• $100 Paulsen Appliance gift card-Joan Bickner-Sycamore IL
• 1 round of golf for 4, Sycamore golf club-Jill Carter-Sycamore IL
• $100 Headon’s Meat Market gift card-Mike Kasperski•Plainfield IL
• $50 Los Rancheros-Jay Ruby-Sycamore IL
• $100 Resource Bank gift card-Joe McGuire-Morris IL
• $50 Sorrento’s gift card-Bret DeGood-Geneva IL
• $50 Tom and Jerry’s-Dan Marcinkowski-Sycamore IL
• 2 Full Service Car Washes, Ralph’s-Randy Holley-Lee IL
• $30 Rise and Shine and $30 Syc. Café-Kelly Graham-Sycamore IL
🏆2024 Sycamore Pumpkin Parade Marching Band Winners🎶
Class 1 HS Bands
• West Aurora Blackhawk Band – 1st Place
• Central HS Marching Rockets – 2nd Place
Class 2 HS Bands
• Plano HS Marching Band – 1st Place
• Forreston HS Redbird Regiment – 2nd Place
Class 3 HS Bands
• Marching Cogs – 1st Place
• Somonauk Marching Bobcats – 2nd Place
Best Auxiliary Units – West Aurora Blackhawk Band
Best Drum Major – Plano HS Marching Band
Beat Percussion – West Aurora Blackhawk Band
MS Bands
• Huntley/Clinton Rosette Middle School – 1st Place
• Kaneland Harter Middle School – 2nd Place
Many thanks to the bands who marched exhibition only:
Sycamore Marching Spartans
Huskie Band
DeKalb Marching Barbs
Indian Creek HS Marching Band
